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M. Ernest Kangou, Director-General of Brazzaville's National ex-Servicemen's Office, was sentenced to eight year's hard labour on Wednesday (14 July) on Charges of embezzling public funds.

He was tried and sentenced by Congo Brazzaville's Revolutionary Court of Justice, which tries "crimes against the revolution." The Court has previously only dealt with political offences, but under a Presidential decree of last February, misappropriation of public funds and issuing cheques with insufficient funds to cover them were also labelled counter-revolutionary crimes.

SYNOPSIS: Congo-Brazzaville's Revolutionary Court of Justice sentenced a public official to eight year's hard labour on Wednesday. He was one of seven officials being tried for misappropriation of public funds. One defendant was a form Director-General of the National ex-Servicemen's Office.

The Court of Justice has previously dealt with only political offences. But under a Presidential decree of last February, misappropriation of public funds and issuing bank cheques with insufficient funds cover them are labelled as counter-revolutionary crimes.

There can be no appeals against the decision of the Court. With finances at a low ebb, and national debts at an all-time high, the Congo Brazzaville Government has decided to crack down hard on embezzlement. The first of the sentences handed out on Wednesday were harsh...but serving as a deterrent to future misappropriation.